I have been designing, facilitating and hosting organizational and community events for more than twenty years. While I do believe in the adage from Open Space that "whoever comes IS the right people", at the same time, I appreciate that to build a robust and shared vision, or to generate new ideas for how to address a complex shared issue, it is essential that individuals -- or sectors -- that hold a key perspective should be present.
The most successful events are intentionally designed to get a microcosym of the "system" affected by the issue together in the same room. This element is so essential to the long-term success of an initiative that it should not be left to chance. Once together, participants of a well-designed event that is facilitated to encourage dialogue, can establish a strong foundation for thinking together, problem-solving and action planning that can lead to real, lasting impact on tough issues.
However, it can be difficult to know who should be invited to your gathering. Budget and space constraints often place real limits on the number of participants who can be accomodated. When faced with such situations, I have come to really value The Community Reference System. It is a highly participative way to engage people from across the system in helping you to determine who should be invited to attend your event. Created by Fred and Merrelyn Emery, the Community Reference System also has the added benefit of building greater awareness and engagement around the issue you are wanting to explore.
